Gun cocking device



Oct. 16, 1945. c. E. JOHNSON ET A1.

GUN COOKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1942 :will o E Q, @M wm uw L w @c isii. S

| I I I I I l l I l I I l a, wh llll El Patented Oct. 16, 1945 GUN cooKiNG DEVICE Cliiord E. Johnson, Medway, and Carleton R. Elliott, Dayton, Ohio amended April 30,

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to gun cooking devices for association with a gun or cannon, Vto move the gun bolt to initial charged condition in engagement with its scar, preparatory to firing automatically.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a simple and efficient cooking or charging unit which is interchangeable for association with different guns, the said unitbeingreadily removable and replaceable for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gun cooking or charging-unit of the type referred to, which is universally adaptable for use with guns placed in diierent positions or locations in an aircraft. for instance, so as to enable operating connections to Work in` conjunction ther`e,

with from diierent desired directions according ing and guiding theryieldable means, which, in

the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, comprises a helical spring embracing the guide means and extending into the plunger; and actuating means connected with the plunger and Vextending axially through theyieldable means,

guide member, and xed member.

The actuating means preferably includes a cable and a pulley over which the cable is trained, the pulley support being rotatable to different fixed positions on an axis parallel to the path of movement of the plunger so that the actuating means or cable may leadv from the charging unit in any one of diierent desired directions, according tor particular conditions of location of the gun respecting the operators station.

The construction is such that yieldable meansV of maximum length may beV employed; having regard to the limitations of dimensions of the elements of the charging unit, so thatrmaximum pressure for maintainingV the plunger in noncharging position against the recoil action of the gun in iiring is secured, while at the same time resulting in a minimum build-up of pressure at the end of the charging stroke, so that the least possible manualA effort is required to move the gun bolt to charged position.

rTheconstruction'is such that `the 'actuating i928; 37o o. c. 757) means is confined within the yieldable means and the guide member, so that there is no danger of its interference. with the gun bolt.

i The fixed member is provided with a slot accommodating that part of the gun bolt that is engaged by the plunger, so that the gun bolt may be removed past the xed member for disassembly without disturbing the charging unit.

For assisting in maintaining the plunger in noncharging position againstthe recoil action of the gun, and in order that a yieldable means of a less compression build-up can be utilized, the invention contemplates that a magnet, fixed respecting the gun, may be provided for cooperation with the plunger.

Other objects, advantages, and features of novelty will become apparent as the description of the invention progresses in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, `in which:

Fig. 1 is a View showing the cooking device of the invention in association with a gun, parts thereof being broken away and certain elements ofthe cooking or charging unit being sho-wn in section;

Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation of a gun embodying the gun cocking device of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the gun being shown broken away;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the means for connecting the actuating means to the plunger, showing the manner of association of the actuating means therewith.

The invention is shown in conjunction with a gungenerally indicated by the numeral I, provided at its side with a charger receiver housing portion 2 located adjacent the breech of the gun having a cylindrical bore 2a extending axially of the gun. rI'he receiver housing 2 is provided with a longitudinal slot 3 through which the gun' bolt i extends from the gun breech into the interior of thek receiver housing 2. The slot 3 starts from a point intermediate the ends of the receiver housing 2 and extends clear to the rear end of said housing, as shown.

The cooking device, or charging unit, of our invention is adapted to be received within the receiver housing 2, and essentially comprises the following elements: A supporting, or abutment, member 5 ofcylindrical form adapted to be received within the housing 2 and maintained in fixed relation respecting said housing by means of a set screw 6 threaded through a suitable aperture in the housing 2 and engaging a recess in the periphery of the member 5; a guide member l secured to the member 5; a plunger 8 tting within the housing 2 and reciprocable respecting the same; yieldable means comprising a helical springv 9- embracing the guide member 'l 'and engaging the abutment member 5 and the plunger cable IIJ ther'eo'ver.

8 so as to normally urge the latter away from said abutment member to maintain the plunger in nonchar'ging position; and actuating means associated with the plunger for moving the same against the action of the yieldable means S to cause the plunger to engage and move the gun bolt 4 leftward, having reference to Fig. 1, to charging position, in which 7position the gun bolt is locked by engagement with its sear (not shown).

This actuating means, in the embodiment shown, comprises a cable and pulley means including a cable III, secured to the plunger 8 and extending axially through the helical spring 9, guide member 7, and abutment member 5, and thence being trained overthe pulley II.

As illustrated, the plunger 8 may be Vhollow so as to receive the inner end of the helical spring 9, and the hollow interior of said plunger 8 ma'y be provided with an abutment member Ifor Yengaging the inner end of the spring 9, said abutment 'member comprising a plug I2 sweated into the inner 'end of the plunger 8 and provided with a tapered seat I2a for the reception of a tapered conical connecting member I3 designed for detachable connection with the cable I0. For this purpose vthe tapered member I3 is provided with an axial bore I3a and a radial -slot I3b communicating therewith. The bore I3`a is of sumcient diameter at the iiared end of said `member 'to receive the ball portion I4a of a ball iitting I4 secured to the end of the cable IG, and Vthe bore 13a-is of reduced diameter toward the narrow end of the tapered member I3 so as to just receive the cable II! but prevent the ball 4portion 14d of the iitting I4 from passing through the bore 'I3a of the tapered member toward the Vnarrow vend of the latter. For this purpose the bore I 3a may be provided with a shoulder I3c deiining the reduced portion thereof, and against whichfthe ball portion Illa abuts. The slot I3b is of s'uflicient width 'to permit the cable to pass Itherethrough so as to enable the ball portion I'4a o the llttirig I4 yto be seated in Vthe bore 13a of 'the tapered member I3.

Thus there is Yprovided means for Vdetachably connecting the A'cable I0 "with the Vplunger I8, whereby the ball `tting I4 end of the cable I0 may be threaded through'the plug I2 lin a rightward direction, having reference to Figs. 1 Vand Y'4, and the cable then 'passed through the-slot 13b of vthe tapered member I3 while the extremities of the latter are intermediate the plug I2 and :the "ball portion Ilia, Ythe latter being of `a larger diameter than the slot 13b. Then the cable I-D 'maybe moved leftward, having reference-to Figs.

1 and 4, so that the ball portion I4a is positioned within the bore I3a of the tapered `member I3 of the plug I2.

For the purpose of 'enabling the cable I0 to pass Vaxially through theguide member 1 and the abutment member'5, the member 'I may conveniently comprise a hollow tube, sweated into a suitable ysocket lprovided in the member so as to communicate with an axial passage 5a provided 'and the latter vseated in the tapered seat I-2`a l 'which the cable II) extends, Vas seen best in Fig. n

1. Rotatably mounted on this boss I5 is a bifurcated bearing bracketforpulley block I6 (Figs. land 2), extending between Ythe legs of which is a suitable pin or shaftl I1 upon which are mounted the vpulley Il VYand the Istirrup I8 for guiding the The bearing bracket '15 is rotatable on the boss I5 about an axis parallel to 'the axis f the plunger '8, and `said bracket is Vprovided with a -screw ror pin i 9 engageable with an annular groove I5a provided on the hollow boss I5, whereby to maintain the bearing bracket 'I6 against axial removal from the boss I5. Suitable means, such as the lock bolt 20 threaded through 'the legs of the bracket I6, is provided Afor yclamping the bracket relative to the boss I5, to maintain said bracket against rotation around the boss when the desired rotational position of the bracket respecting the boss has been determined.

Thus, Vfor instance, the bearing bracket I6 carrying the pulley I I will be initially rotated around the boss `I5 'to a `position determined by the direction ln 'which the cable is to pass from the pulley t0 lthe operators station. In `this connection, 'it is contemplated that the gun with which the charging device of `rthe invention is 'associated may bepositioned at a location remote from the operators station-as in the wing of an airplane, vfor example-and the direction which the cable I0 extends from the pulley tothe oper ators station 'will determine the adjusted rotational position of lthe pulley bracket I6 respecting the boss I5.

ForV limiting the inward movement of the plunger i'8 in the Idirection in Vwhich it is normally urged Vby the yieldable means '9, the receiver housing 2 may be provided at its forward end, as shown in Fig. 1, with -a removable plug 2l with which the plug I2 end of the -plunger '18 may engage. If desired, the plug -2I may vin- `corporate ya permanent magnet, as indicated at v2`2,fcooperable with the plug I2 end of the plunger 8 to assist the 'action of the spring 9 fin maintaining the plunger at its rightward extreme, noncharging, position in the housing -2 "to insure lagainst movement of the plunger respecting the vhousing in response 'to recoil action of the gun `sor that the v4plunger will not engage with the gun bolt lug 4 during jiiring, and, therefore, will not interfere with the proper action of the gun Ybolt 'during such time.

However, i't is to be noted that by reason of Ythe design'of the charging unit of vour invention, respect of the fact that a considerable portion Vof the vlength lof the spring l9 vextends into the `plunger 8, a heavy "spring 9 of suicierit `length and strength "to maintain the Vplunger 8 in nonlcharging 'position 'against #the yrecoil Y action of the gun, may be utilized so as to eliminate 'the'necessity for providing the 'magnet 22, while at the *saine time enabling vthe-'employmentof'a plunger -8 of suicient length to provide 'proper bearing lthereof within the vreceiver housing 2 and thus prevent 'any misalignm'ent or YAcooking of the "plunger in the housing such as 'might tend '-to 'fcausethe nplunger t'o "binder jam respecting 'the housing.

The lprovision '-'of the extended tubular guide member vIalsofas'sistsin`v permitting a'longer spring "9 Ato nbe used, :since 4the same 'is ladequately vsupported by VSaid guide member 1. Ona'ecount of "the ufact vthat Ythe cable AIl) jis conn'ed 'within ythe spring 9 vand the'guide'nlember 1, said cable is Nvprevented Y"from interfering "with the operation ofthe gun boltlug'' during li'ng.

The abutment member 5 is provided with va l{longitudin'al recess 5b 'extending from 'end to end l*and 'adapted to accommodate "the Qgun bolt'lug tII so las Ito 'enable the lsame to be moved past the member 5 outward-ly (leitw'al-'dly respecting "Fig. l) for disassembly without *disturbing '-thl charging unit. For the purpose of removal of the breech block including the gun bolt, the end plate la of the gun must, of course, be iirst removed.

If desired, stops 23 may be provided on the abutment member 5 for engagement with the bearing bracket i6 to limit the rotational movement thereof with respect to the boss l5.

In operation, for initially cooking the gun or moving the gun bolt into position to be engaged by its sear preparatory to ring, the operating or handle end lila of the cable I will be manually grasped by the operator and pulled outwardly to cause the plunger 8 to move in leftward direction, having reference to Fig. 1, to cause the plunger 8 to engage the gun bolt lug 4 so as to move the gun bolt in that direction until the latter is locked in cocked position by its sear. As soon as the gun bolt becomes locked in cocked position by its Sear, the cable Ill may be released by the operator and the plunger 8 will immediately spring back in a rightward direction, respecting Fig. l, to its noncharging position of engagement with the plug 2l, as shown in said figure.

In guns of the type for which the charging device of the invention is particularly designed, the firing is automatic, so that the cooking device is operated only for initially moving the gun bolt to charged position in locked engagement with its sear, and the cooking device is not operated during firing of the gun 0r again until the gun bolt is required to be recocked, as when the gun becomes jammed or when ammunition has been exhausted and it is necessary to recharge the gun with ammunition.

It will be apparent that plunger 8, spring 9, guide member 7, abutment member 5 and the cable and pulley means comprising bracket I6, cable i0, and pulley Il, comprise a unitary gun cooking device which may be inserted in or removed from the charger receiver housing 2 as an integral unit, since the plunger 8 is associated with the other parts through the instrumentalities of the cable I5 and spring 9. The elements of the unit having been previously assembled as indicated, all that is necessary to be done in associating the unit in operative relation with the gun is to insert the abutment 5, guide 1, spring 9, and plunger 8 elements of said unit in the receiver housing 2 and lock the abutment member 5 in iixed position respecting the housing 2 by means of the set screw 6.

It will also be apparent that the plunger and spring elements may be readily preliminarily assembled in proper relation to the guide member 'l and abutment member 5 by threading the cable in a rightward direction, respecting Fig. 1 through the hollow boss l5, passage 5a, guide member 1, spring 9 and plunger 8 and securing the cable to the plunger 8 by means of the detachable connection, including ball tting I4 and tapered member i3, as above described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A gun cooking device of the class described adapted for association with a gun having va breech and a breech bolt and having a housing arranged adjacent the breech, comprising, in combination, a supporting member adapted to be removably secured in said housing in Xed relation to the gun, said supporting member having an axial bore, a guide tube having an axial bore therethrough and secured to one end of said supporting member with its bore in alignment with the bore in said supporting member, said guide tube being adapted to be within the housing when the supporting member is secured in the housing,

-a hollow plunger axially aligned with said guide tube and adapted for reciprocating movement in said housing along an axis parallel to the axis of movement of the bolt, said plunger being closed at one end and open at the other end, said plunger being adapted to engage the breech bolt when positioned in said housing, a coil spring coiled around said guide tube and entering said plunger to engage the closed end thereof, said spring also engaging said supporting member to urge the plunger away from said supporting member, and a exible cable secured to said plunger and passing axially through said spring and said guide tube and said supporting member, said cable being operable to move the plunger toward the supporting member into telescoping relation with the guide tube against the action of said spring, whereby the device may be detached from the y gun and transported as a unit in that condition,

and whereby the plunger will engage and move the gun bolt to cocked position when the supporting member is secured in xed relation to the gun in said housing and the cable is operated as aforesaid. I

2. A gun cooking device of the class described adapted for association with a gun having a breech and a breech bolt and having a housing arranged adjacent the breech, comprising, in combination, a supporting member adapted to be removably secured in said housing in xed relation tothe gun, said supporting member having an axial bore, a guide tube having an axial bore therethrough and secured to one end of said supporting member with its bore in alignment with the bore in said supporting member, said guide tube being adapted to be within the housing when the supporting member is secured in the housing, a hollow plunger axially aligned with said tube and adapted for reciprocating movement in said housing along an axis parallel to the axis of movement of the bolt, relative to the gun, said plunger being adapted toengage the breech bolt when positioned in said housing, said plunger being closed at one end and open at the other end, a coil spring coiled around said guide tube and entering said plunger to engage the closed end of the latter, said spring also engaging said supporting member to urge the plunger away from said supporting member, a exible cable secured to said plunger and passing axially through said spring and said guide tube and said supporting member, and a pulley rotatably mounted on said supporting member at the opposite side thereof from said guide tube, said cable being trained over said 'pulley and operable to move the plunger toward the supporting member into telescoping relation with the guide tube against the action of said spring, whereby the supporting member may be detached from the gun and the device transported as a unit vin that condition with all the elements carried by said supporting member, and whereby said plunger will engage and move the gun bolt to cocked position when the supporting member is secured in iixed relation to the gun in said housing and the cable is operated as aforesaid.

3. A gun cocking device of the class described adapted for association with a gun having a breech and a breech bolt and having a housing arranged adjacent the breech, comprising, in combination, a, supporting member adapted to be removably secured in `said housing in xed relation to the gun, said supporting member having an axial bore, a guide tube having an axial bore Jtherethrough and secured to one end of said supporting member with its bore in alignment with the bore in said supporting member, said guide tube being adapted to be Within the housing when the supporting member is secured in the housing, a hollow plunger axially `aligned with said tube and adapted for reciprocating movement in said housing along an axis parallel 4to the axis of movement of the bolt relative to the gun, said plunger being closed at one end and open at the other end, said plunger being adapted to engage the breech bolt when positioned in said housing, a coil spring coiled around said guide tube and entering said plunger to engage the closed end of the latter, said spring also engaging said supporting member to urge the plunger away from said supporting member, a flexible cable secured to said plunger and passing axially through said spring and said guide tube and said supporting member, and pulley means associated with said supporting member and comprising a pulley over which the cable is trained, a pulley block rotatably mounted on said supporting member at the opposite side thereof from said guide tube, said pulley block being mounted for rotation relative to said supporting member about an axis parallel to the axis of said tube, said pulley being mounted on said block for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said block, said cable being operable to move the plunger toward the supporting member into telescoping relation with the guide tube against the action of said spring whereby the supporting member may be detached from the gun and the device ytransported as a unit in that condition with all of the elements carried by said supporting member, and whereby said plunger will engage `and move the gun bolt to cocked position when the supporting member is secured in 'fixed relation to the gun in said housing and the cable is operated as aforesaid.

4, A gun cooking device of the class described adapted for association with a gun having a breech and a breech bolt and having a housing arranged adjacent the breech, comprising, in combination, a supporting member adapted to be removably secured in said housing in xed relation to the gun, said supporting member having .an axial bore, a .guide tube having an axial bore therethrough and secured to one end of said supporting member with its bore in alignment with the bore in said supporting member, said guide tubebeing adapted to be within the housing when the supporting member is secured in the housing,

`a hollow plunger axially aligned with said tube .and adapted for reciprocating movement in said housing along an axis parallel to the axis of movement of said bolt, said plunger being closed at one end and open at the other end, said plunger being adapted to engage the breech bolt when positioned .in said housing, a coil spring coiled around said tube and ventering said plunger to engage the closed end of the latter, said spring also engaging said supporting member to urge the plunger away from said supporting member, a iiexible cable secured to said plunger and passing axially through said spr/ing and said guide tube and said supporting member, and pulley means associated with said supporting member and comprising a pulley over which the cable is trained, a bearing-element fixed to said supporting member on the opposite side thereof from said guide tube, said bearing element having a bore therethrough in axial alignment with the bore in said supporting member, said bearing element having an annular groove therein, a pulley block rotatably mounted on said bearing element, means on Said block engaging in said groove, and means for locking said block in fixed rotational position with respect to said bearing element, said pulley being mounted on said block for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said block, said cable vbeing operable to move the plunger toward the supporting member into telescoping relation with .the guide tube against the action of said spring, whereby the device maybe detached from the gun and transported as a unit in that condition with all of the elements carried by said supporting member, and whereby the plunger will engage and move the gun bolt to cocked position when the supporting member is secured in xed relation to the gun in said housing and the cable is operated as aforesaid.

5. A gun cooking device of the class described, adapted for association with a gun having a breech and a breech bolt and having a housing arranged adjacent the breech, comprising, in combination, a supporting member adapted to be removably secured in said housing in fixed relation to the gun, said supporting member having an .axial bore, a guide tube having an axial bore therethrough and secured to one end of said supporting memberA with its bore in alignment with the bore in said supporting member, said guide tube being adapted to be Within the housing when the supporting member is secured in the housing, a hollow plunger axially aligned with said tube and adapted for reciprocating movement in said housing along an axis parallel to the axis of movement of said bolt, said'plunger being closed at one end and open at the other end, said plunger being adapted to engage the breech bolt when positioned in said housing, a coil spring coiled around said guide tube and entering said plunger to engage the closed end thereof, said spring also engaging said supporting member to urge the plunger away from said supporting member, a flexible cable, said plunger having a tapered socket in its closed end, and means for detacha'bly securing said cable to said plunger and comprising a tapered member .receivable in said socket and having an axial bore therethrough and a radial slot extending from end to end of said tapered member and communicating with said bore and adapted to permit insertion oi said cable therethrough into said bore, said cable having an enlarged abutment member thereon, the bore of said tapered member having an enlarged portion at one end thereof to receive said cable abutment member, and the remainder ci bore of said tapered member being smaller than the cable abutmentmember, said cable passing axially through said spring and said guide tube and said supporting member, said cable being operable to move .the plunger toward the supporting member into telescoping relation with the guide tube against the action of said spring, whereby the device may be detached from the gun and transported as a unit in that condition with all o1" the elements carried by said supporting member, and whereby the V)plunger will engage and move the gun bolt to cocked position when the supporting member is secured in xed relation to the gun in said housing and the cable is operated as aforesaid.

t Y CLIFFORD E. JOHNSON. CARLETON R. ELLIOTT. 

